The NBA’s board of governors will reportedly vote tomorrow on a 22-team return to play format. A conference call with the league’s owners is scheduled for 11:30 central time tomorrow. ESPN reports all of the teams will play in Orlando, including the Pelicans, and play eight regular-season games to determine seeding for a 16-team playoff. The Pels are 3.5 games back of Memphis, but according to the Athletic, if the gap between the eighth and ninth seed is four games or fewer those teams would face off in a double-elimination, play-in tournament. The season would resume on July 31st and if there’s a game seven of the NBA Finals it will be on October 12th.

The LHSAA’s executive committee holds a virtual meeting today and they’ll discuss the reports that as many as 14 schools have held summer workouts prior to a June eighth start date.

The NFL has told its teams they must hold training camp this year at their home facilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly a third of the teams hold their training camp in a location away from their home facilities. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reports joint practices between two teams will be banned, once training camp begins.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said his players and former players are hurting and they’ve let him know they’re hurting over George Floyd’s death. Orgeron says he totally supports them and he will not tolerate racism. The S-I report says Coach O let LSU Police Lt. Reggie Berry speak at the team’s first meeting yesterday since the coronavirus outbreak. Berry’s father, Hassell Berry Junior, was LSU’s first black police officer in 1968.

Backup U-L Lafayette quarterback Brayden Hawkins and reserve linebacker Jordan Cordova have reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said his players and former players are hurting and they’ve let him know they’re hurting over George Floyd’s death. Orgeron says he totally supports them and he will not tolerate racism. The S-I report says Coach O let LSU Police Lt. Reggie Berry speak at the team’s first meeting yesterday since the coronavirus outbreak. Berry’s father, Hassell Berry Junior, was LSU’s first black police officer in 1968.

The NFL has told its teams they must hold training camp this year at their home facilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly a third of the teams hold their training camp in a location away from their home facilities.

The LHSAA’s executive committee holds a virtual meeting today and they’ll discuss the reports that as many as 14 schools have held summer workouts prior to a June eighth start date.

The NBA’s board of governors will vote on a return to play proposal tomorrow and according to ESPN it will be a 22-team format that will begin in Orlando on July 31st. And that would mean Game Seven of the NBA Finals would be on October 12th. A 22-team format would include the New Orleans Pelicans.

A state court judge in Florida has ruled that Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson will have to answer questions under oath over whether he accepted improper benefits to attend Duke for one year. Williamson’s lawyers are expected to appeal. Williamson is involved in a legal dispute with his former marketing representative Gina Ford.

Backup U-L Lafayette quarterback Brayden Hawkins and reserve linebacker Jordan Cordova have reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal. But the Ragin Cajuns basketball team is getting a transfer from Cal. Six-foot-seven small forward Jacobi Gordon has tweeted he has committed to U-L Lafayette. He averaged 2 points a game over two seasons at Cal.

LSU will welcome Southern University to Tiger Stadium in 2022 and Grambling will play the Bayou Bengals in front of 100-thousand fans in 2023. It will be the first time LSU has faced either school in football.

The games mean Southern and Grambling will receive big paychecks to play LSU in football. LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says if they are playing an F-C-S school, they’d like it to be an in-state foe, especially Southern and Grambling who have great traditions
Cut 18 (19) “…Doug Williams”

And in other news involving the SWAC, Florida A-and-M is reportedly looking at leaving the MEAC to join the SWAC.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Gayle Benson announces the formation of a Social Justice Leadership Coalition. Players from the two professional franchises will be on the task force. Saints linebacker Demario Davis, along with Pelicans guards Lonzo Ball and J-J Redick will be on it, but Benson says anyone can join. She says we have a lot of work to create meaningful change.

Just over a year ago Louisiana Tech’s baseball stadium was destroyed by an E-F three tornado. But next year, Tech will host the Conference USA Baseball championship tournament at a rebuilt J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013.

In other Conference USA news, the Stadium’s Brett McMurphy reports the field for the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments next year will be dropped from 12 to eight teams.

LSU will play Grambling and Southern for the first time ever in football. The Tigers will host the Jaguars in September 2022 and Grambling will travel to Tiger Stadium in 2023. LSU’s Executive Deputy Athletics Director Verge Ausberry says with civil unrest gripping the country, they thought it was appropriate to announce these first-ever matchups against tradition rich black college football programs…
cut 16 (12) “….of Louisiana”
Ausberry says they began discussing the games with Southern and Grambling a couple of years ago. He knows the fan bases for these two schools will be fired up to see their teams play in Tiger Stadium…
cut 17 (08) “…great bands”

In a statement, Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson denounced police brutality in any form and she says George Floyd was tragically and senselessly murdered by police in Minneapolis. Benson also announced the formation of the Social Justice Leadership Coalition that will focus on societal issues. Saints linebacker Demario Davis, Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball, and shooting guard J-J Redick will be on the task force.

Just over a year ago Louisiana Tech’s baseball stadium was destroyed by an E-F three tornado. But next year, Tech will host the Conference USA Baseball championship tournament at a rebuilt J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013.

In other Conference USA news, the Stadium’s Brett McMurphy reports the field for the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments next year will be dropped from 12 to eight teams.

Florida A-and-M is reportedly considering a move to the SWAC.

LSU announces it will play Grambling State and Southern for the first time ever in football over the next couple of years. The Fighting Tigers will host the Jaguars on September 10th, 2022 in Tiger Stadium and in 2023, Grambling will be in Death Valley for a game against LSU on September ninth. Athletics Director Scott Woodward says these games will not only be a celebration of football, but also the state of Louisiana and all of its people.

On Friday night, protestors smashed the exterior glass of the College Football of Hame in Atlanta and gained entry. But officials say the hall’s treasured artifacts, collections and displays were untouched and remain protected in secured locations. The substantial damage that did occur was limited to the gift shop and its merchandise.

Former Auburn football coach and athletic director Pat Dye has passed away at the age of 80. He won 99 games in 12 seasons and won and shared four SEC titles. The 80-year-old was hospitalized last month for kidney-related issues.

A bill that sets up the regulations so Louisiana residents can participate in online fantasy sports contests for cash prizes is headed to the governor’s desk. Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says they’re confident Governor Edwards will sign the legislation and hopefully lawmakers will approve the taxation in the June special session.
Cut 12 (08) “this year
The special session is set to begin one minute after the regular session ends at 6:00 tonight.

There’s big news involving Louisiana Tech and its baseball program. The Conference USA Baseball championship tournament will be played at J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. The facility is currently being rebuilt after it was destroyed by an EF-3 tornado last year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013 and the first Tech baseball hosted the league championships since the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Championships.

The death of George Floyd and during an arrest in Minneapolis has hit home for Saints defensive end Cam Jordan. He was born in Minneapolis and tells WWL Radio that he still has family and friends in Minnesota. Jordan says black men feel targeted by police and it will take a multitude of different facets of people to come together and abolish this ideal.

Former LSU star Joe Burrow tweeted out on Friday that the black community needs our help. He says they’ve been unheard for far too long. The Heisman Trophy winner says open your ears, listen and speak. Burrow finished his tweet by saying this isn’t politics, this is human rights.

A crash between Chase Elliott and Joey Logano with just over a lap left resulted in Brad Keselowski crossing the finish line in first place at Bristol, Tennessee. It’s his second win of the season and his second win in five races since NASCAR restarted.

The Major League Baseball Players Association has reportedly presented a return to play proposal that calls for a 114-game season, deferred salaries if the 2020 postseason were canceled, an expanded playoff field for this year and next. And an option for players to opt-out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns. MLB owners have proposed an 82-game schedule and a pay cut for the game’s highest-paid players. Negotiations are expected to pick up this week, as the goal is to start the season in early July.

NBA’s Board of governors is expected to vote on Thursday on a format to restart the season in Orlando. ESPN reports there’s growing support for a plan to bring 22 teams to Disney’s ESPN Wild World of Sports in July. That means the Pelicans will have an opportunity to compete for a postseason spot because the 22-team plan would include teams that are within six games of the final playoff spots in each conference.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating at least 12 schools for allegedly holding summer workouts prior to the June 8th start date. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they were notified about the possible violations by other schools and…
Cut 27 (09) “…the right thing.”
Bonine says possible punishment could be announced next week.

A report by the Athletic says NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has targeted July 31st as a date for a return to play. Silver made that statement in a conference call with NBA owners today. The league office is talking with front offices about what the format should be when the players do get back in the court, should they start the playoffs immediately or have some play-in games to determine the postseason field.

Louisiana Tech football plans to start voluntary workouts on June eighth as the Bulldogs get ready for the 2020 season. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland made that announcement in a zoom call with reporters. McClelland also said its their hope fans will be allowed to attend football games, but no decisions have been made yet…
cut 17 (30) “…very understanding”
McClelland also addressed rumors of a potential merger between Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference. He says it’s not happening.

There’s been speculation Conference USA and the Sun Belt could merge because of financial difficulties that have emerged as a result of the coronavirus shutdown. But Louisiana Tech A-D Tommy McClelland says there is no discussion within Conference USA to merge with the Sun Belt…
cut 18 (20) “…of interest’
McClelland added that if he was at U-L Lafayette, he would try to figure out a way to move up to a level like Conference USA.

The NBA is still trying to figure out how to resume its season. A survey of general managers reportedly found that 83-percent of them supported a playoff plus format, where 20 or more teams returning to play.

The LHSAA says they are looking into allegations that some schools are holding summer workouts, even though they are not supposed to until June eighth. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they’ve received time-stamped photos and videos of the practice sessions…
cut 8 (08) “….surveillance”
Bonine says the executive committee meets next week and more details will be released then. Fox 8 Sports is reporting John Curtis and Holy Cross are two of the schools under LHSAA investigation. Both told the New Orleans T-V station said they’ve done nothing wrong and will be cleared.

In NFL news, former Saints cornerback Eli Apple has signed with the Carolina Panthers. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is hopeful coaches will be able to return to team facilities next week. Also, the NFL owners tabled a proposal that would have allowed teams a chance to convert on fourth-and-15 instead of going for an onside kick.

Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that will ask voters on November 3rd if sports betting should be legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if a parish approves the referendum, then lawmakers will vote next year on the regulation and taxation of sports wagering, which will be controversial
Cut 3 (05) “…should go”
Henry says the ballot question will ask voters if sports wagering activities and operations should be permitted in your parish.

Dates and times for Saints preseason games have been set. The Black and Gold will kick off the preseason in Los Angeles on Friday, August 14th. 9 PM is the start time. The next week, New Orleans travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on a Sunday night. In week three of the preseason, New Orleans hosts Houston on Saturday, August 29th. The Saints conclude the preseason on Thursday night, September third against the Miami Dolphins.

Conference USA and the Sun Belt have announced their bowl lineup for the next six years starting with the 2020 season. The Sun Belt will have five bowl tie-ins, but the New Orleans Bowl will no longer have the first pick. That will go to a bowl game owned and operated by ESPN, such as the Boca Raton Bowl, Cure Bowl and SERVPRO First Responsder Bowl in Dallas.

Conference USA says they will continue to send teams to the Bahamas Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl on an annual basis.

LSU assistant baseball coach Eddie Smith says 21 Tigers will participate in summer leagues this season. Several players will play in the South Florida League, which begins play on June 12th. They are Collier Cranford, Cade Doughty, Alex Milazzo, Cade Beloso, Zach Arnold and Giovanni DiGiacomo.

Northwestern State pitcher Kyle Swanson has been named the Southland Conference Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year. The Texas native graduated with perfect 4.0 GPA in health and human performance and had a 1.04 ERA in seven appearances and four saves in 2020.

We are a step closer to legalized sports betting in Louisiana as the state legislature has given final legislative approval to a measure that would ask voters on the November third ballot if sports wagering should be legal in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if one or more parishes approve the referendum, then next year lawmakers will determine taxation, regulation and where sports bets can be placed…
cut 5 (05) “…next step”
Supporters say sports betting is already happening and if it was legal than the state can tax the activity to generate revenue. Opponents say legal sports betting will produce more problem gamblers, which ends up costing taxpayers.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating ten schools for allegedly holding summer workouts before the June eighth start date. Executive Director Eddie Bonine declined to name the schools, but schools found in violation face fines and their coaches could be suspended.

Dates and times for Saints preseason games have been set and we’ll see if they actually get played. The Black and Gold will kick off the preseason in Los Angeles on Friday, August 14th. 9 PM is the start time. The next week, New Orleans travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Sunday night. In week three of the preseason, New Orleans hosts Houston on Saturday, August 29th. The Saints conclude the preseason on Thursday night, September third against the Miami Dolphins.

The Sun Belt Conference has announced that the New Orleans Bowl will no longer have the first choice on which team from the Sun Belt will play in their bowl game. Commissioner Keith Gill says a variety of ESPN operated or owned bowl games will get that first selection and the New Orleans Bowl will hold the second selection.

Northwestern State pitcher Kyle Swanson has been named the Southland Conference Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year. The Texas native graduated with perfect 4.0 GPA in health and human performance and had a 1.04 ERA in seven appearances and four saves in 2020.